At Waynesburg University, academic excellence extends far beyond the walls of a classroom. Top-notch instruction—that which also weaves the principles of faith, ethics and moral leadership into the course work—is bolstered by a robust array of hands-on learning opportunities, from Nursing Simulation and Marine Biology Labs to a remote TV production truck and Lasershot Firearms Simulator.

As a result of these facilities, co-curricular organizations possess the opportunity to grow and flourish, preparing students professionally. For example, the University’s American Chemical Society student chapter recently received the “Outstanding Chapter Award” for the fifth consecutive year. Additionally, the University’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America achieved Star Chapter status for the second-straight year, and President Megan Bayles, a junior, became the first ever from Southwestern Pennsylvania to earn the prestigious Betsy Plank PRSSA Scholarship, given each year to only three students in the entire country.

The University now also has an agreement with the highly-rated West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, affording students the chance at expedited application review and an early admission interview, among other benefits.

These types of opportunities and experiences provide Waynesburg students a distinct advantage upon graduation. Utilizing the knowledge imparted by committed faculty members, graduates regularly achieve 100% pass rates on national exams in fields such as Nursing and Athletic Training. Furthermore, the Class of 2013 achieved a 97% placement rate, which means 97% of responding students were either working full-time, in graduate/professional school or in the military within one of year of graduation.

Alumni such as Dr. Autumn Lemley, D.O. ('09), Daniel Czajkowski ('14) and Ryan Devlin ('07) reach new heights in their educational and professional careers as a result of their Waynesburg education. Lemley went on to graduate from West Virginia's School of Osteopathic Medicine and now practices at Cornerstone Care and Monongalia General Hospital as a Family Medicine Resident. Czajkowski used his unique experiences in Waynesburg's Stover Program for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership to prepare him for a job on Capitol Hill as a Staff Assistant of Congressman Keith Rothfuss. Devlin was named the 2013 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year and became the first person ever from the state to be one of the three finalists for National Teacher of the Year.

Stories like those of Autumn, Daniel and Ryan abound among Waynesburg graduates, and so many attribute their success in large part to their time at Waynesburg. To learn more about what alumni are doing and where students are interning, visit waynesburg.edu/outcomes.

For more numbers on academics at Waynesburg, see the bulleted list below:

For some of the students with which you work, the question of whether to attend a secular or Christian institution may be an important part of their decision process. This can be a difficult topic, as these students try to discern where God is leading them in the midst of such transition and change. While individuals searching for their true calling and direction in life can certainly follow God’s will at secular schools, there are advantages to attending a Christian college or university. Here are the top three…

3. Academic instruction.In many cases, choosing a Christian institution means choosing a smaller setting. According to collegestats.org, 817 of the country’s religiously affiliated schools have less than 5,000 students. And nearly 400 of those have less than 1,000. So what’s that mean for your academics? It means smaller class sizes, more hands-on learning opportunities and much more individualized attention from faculty. Also, often times, those professors will share the Christian perspective on the subject matters they teach (after laying out all of the other viewpoints, as well), allowing students to explore and discover in an informed manner.

2. Service opportunities. Matthew 20:28 reads, “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”Thus, it’s no surprise that the types of institutions that bear Christ’s name provide boundless opportunities for their students to serve the world around them. Whether it’s traveling halfway across the globe to work with impoverished youth or giving back locally with the vocational skills learned in the classroom and laboratory, these experiences prove life altering for so many. And the best schools will seek not only to provide these outlets at their respective institutions, but also to equip their students for a lifetime of servitude for the glory of God.

1. Students' holistic development. To many (including myself!), the No. 1 reason to consider a Christian college or university is the opportunity to develop holistically as a person. From top to bottom, teh faculty and staff at these institutions care about so much more than just what letter goes down in the grade book. They pour their heart, soul and precious time into students to ensure that they're not only better job prospects, but that they're also better men and women of God. And at a time when fiscal responsibility is on the top of everyone's priority list, that type of college experience is a value that's worth every single penny.

With December upon us, the fall athletic season is either in the books or nearing completion for collegiate programs all across the country. At Waynesburg University, all of those varsity athletic teams recently wrapped up their 2014 campaigns, and the squads produced no shortage of success.

Two of these teams—football and women’s cross country—excelled both on and off the field (or course).

Football earned a share of second place in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) by defeating previously unbeaten Washington and Jefferson in the regular season finale. The Yellow Jackets qualified for an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) bowl game for the fourth consecutive season, hosting one of the contests for the second time in three years.

When the PAC announced its all-conference teams, Waynesburg landed 17 players on the squads, including a league-best five first-team offensive selections. The Yellow Jackets, who finished 8-3 overall, also took home the PAC Team Sportsmanship Award.

In the classroom, three players were named to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District 4 Division III Football Team, and two of those players—senior John Sikora and junior Mike Lopuchovsky—were honored as Academic All-Americans.

Women’s cross country finished second at the PAC Championships, falling just short of dethroning now-26-time champion Grove City. Individually, six runners earned All-PAC status at the event, including three first-team honorees, and head coach Chris Hardie was named Coach of the Year.

The future certainly looks bright for the Yellow Jackets, too, as four of their All-PAC performers were freshmen and one was a sophomore. One of those freshmen, Julie Gerber, led the charge by finishing second overall.

Off the course, the Yellow Jacket women teamed up with the men’s squad to complete a service project in Gettysburg (see above photo).

Football and cross country were not the only Waynesburg teams to experience success this fall, either. Here are a few other achievements, both on and off the field, of the Yellow Jacket athletic program:

Men’s soccer qualified for the PAC Championship Tournament for the first time since the current format began back in 2005.

With Thanksgiving just a day away, the busy fall travel season is all wrapped up for many admissions professionals across the country. No more rushing from high school to high school, no more standing behind a college fair table and no more late afternoons on Panera’s wi-fi—at least until early Spring.

Now in my third year as an admissions representative at Waynesburg University, I have the hustle and bustle of three of those travel seasons under my belt. And while there’s many more seasoned than I, I certainly had the pleasure of experiencing a great deal over the course of those three autumns.

From wings in Buffalo and cheesesteaks in Philly, to crème pie in Boston and BBQ in Texas, I always tried to sample the local cuisine. When I found myself with a brief bit of downtime, I even attempted to hit a few of the sites, Fenway Park and Maine’s rocky coast included.

Despite the personal perks, though, I speak on behalf of the entire Admissions staff here when I say our favorite part is simply interacting with all of the individuals we meet over the course of the fall, from the typical sit-down in a high school guidance office to a chance encounter like the one I had in Dallas with a man born in Waynesburg’s hospital 60-70 years prior. The interest in and connections to our small university in Southwestern Pennsylvania never cease to excite me.

In October, I happened to be in northern New Jersey during Waynesburg’s Fall Break. Two current students who I had met in the area in years prior stopped by my table at two separate events to say hello. They recalled and reminisced about their own college search, which seemed like such a short time prior. It’s those conversations that make the fall travel season such an enjoyable experience, and it’s those relationships that can make a job in admissions so rewarding.

So on this, the eve of Thanksgiving, we in the Admissions Office want to pause and reflect on what we’re thankful for—for safe travels, quality conversations, and delightful students and families we have the pleasure of working with, day in and day out.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Waynesburg University. "Let us come before him with thanksgiving..." -Psalm 95:2a

With so many colleges and universities out there to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where all to apply. After filling out a few, you may look at the next school on your list and think to yourself, “Why should I apply here?” Well, if you’re asking that about Waynesburg University, this list is your answer! Here are the top five reasons to apply to Waynesburg:

5. It’s free!Not much to explain here. If you apply online, it won’t cost you a penny!

4. Fun.We understand you need some downtime in order to be successful academically. Whether you’re off to practice, enjoying Bingo night, taking a trip to Pittsburgh or just hanging with friends in the residence halls, you’ll never be at a loss for things to do. Oh, and traditions that students enjoy? We’ve got a bunch of those, too. Pumpkin Bowling, the Campus Community Thanksgiving Dinner, and the President’s Breakfast are but a few.

3. Achievement Awards.Depending on where you’re at with your cumulative high school GPA and SAT/ACT scores, you could be in line for anywhere from $28,000 to $60,000 (four-year totals) in Achievement Awards. If you apply and are accepted, you’ll find out right on your acceptance letter how much, if any, you may qualify for. This, along with other Financial Aid, could help defray the total cost of attending Waynesburg, which is already almost $11,000 less than other private, four-year institutions!

2. Hands-on learning.Hands-on learning is a staple here, and in almost every major, that starts freshman year. Whether you’re assessing injuries on the football field, analyzing blood spatter in the Forensic Science Lab or broadcasting events from the University’s remote TV truck, you won’t just be sitting in a classroom. When you are, though, it’ll only be with about 19 others. As a result, your professors will know you and invest themselves in your learning.

1. People.Cliché? Maybe. But to so many here, the best part of Waynesburg truly is its people. Those faculty members we just mentioned, President Lee, Residence Life, Campus Ministry Assistants, coaches, and the list could go on – all here committed to our mission of Christian faith, scholarship and service, and to your holistic development as a person.

As you can see, no matter what your criteria, Waynesburg has something for you. Don’t wait; apply today! (Remember, it’s free!)

Plus, if you apply and are accepted within the next few weeks, you may also be eligible to apply for some of our Competitive Merit Scholarship Programs. You don’t want to miss out on that opportunity!